Keep Music in Schools!

This literally brought tears to my eyes. Every child seems to have such enthusiasm for singing. It's fabulous. And when I think about how much music means to me and how much I gained by getting exposed to it and participating in school, I simply can't fathom how schools can cut their programs. Watch this - you'll be touched, too.

Blog Love - Raising Foodies

Have you seen the new blog Raising Foodies yet? It's by Joslyn, the author of the great blog Simple Lovely. Her mission is to find nutritious - also focusing on staying local and organic whenever possible - foods that her kids will like. She has such a nice style, so it's a fun blog to read, and it's also a great source of food inspiration.

She is starting something of an online cooking group - basically, signing up some fellow bloggers to try new recipes and then post the results. What a great way to expand the food inspiration! Here is the post where she describes the plan. I'm planning to participate. My kids are young, but I already love having my two-year-old try new things. Give it a read!

My Firemen

A loved getting quality time with Daddy while we were all home with the new little one. I captured this cute photo op when they both had their fire helmets on. Thanks, John, for providing the real fireman's helmet - it's too big for A but he loves it on Dad!

Sweet Big Brother

I should go ahead and admit that my posts will most likely be pictures of my boys for a while. I'm soaking in my gorgeous new baby and thoroughly enjoying the quality time I'm able to spend with my toddler, so that's what's on my mind. I promise I'll get back to posting some non-baby stuff after a while, but in the meantime...

*A wanted N to have a car to play with, too.

A is a fabulous big brother. Any concerns I may've had about his being jealous or getting upset about having to share Mommy have truly disappeared. Okay, occasionally he does still want Mommy to do something for him when I have an armful of baby and can't, but all in all, he's pretty awesome.

*A wanted to show N pictures of fire trucks. I can't wait until A can really read to him!

Slings, Groceries, and Happy Babies

Today's Three Beautiful Things:

1. My sling. Oh my goodness how I love the magical sling. Calms my little baby right down and gives me free hands to push A on the swing or the ability to kick balls with him in the yard. Awesome.

2. Online grocery shopping. Best thing ever.

3. The satisfied look on N's face right after he's been fed. Pouty lips, wrinkled forehead, little moans. Love it.

Photos of the Month!

My gorgeous boys. A is a great big brother so far. He's very sweet and gentle, and he's super excited to have a baby brother!

Here's our new little lump. Gorgeous boy. 7 lbs, 8 oz bundle of love.

And I'm hanging in there so far. So happy to be home with all my boys!

The Hangover

No, no baby yet. So K and I enjoyed one last date night. We saw "The Hangover". I laughed like crazy. I hope you all had great weekends too!

Be Back Soon

*Image from PinkSherbet's Flickr Page

Well, I won't be in a sunny tropical location for a vacation or anything, but I will be having a baby shortly, so I will be taking a break from blogging. My due date is actually today, but I don't see any signs of him arriving today. That's okay - I'll enjoy one last quiet weekend and another date night with K. I'll post occasionally once the new little one shows up. I hope you're all having a wonderful summer so far!

This Week's Menu

Panko-crusted Fish Sticks with Herb Dipping Sauce
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes


Spaghetti and Meatballs
Salad


Pierogies, Peppers/Onions
Kielbasa


Penne with Asparagus, Spinach, and Bacon
Roasted Tomatoes
Bread


Spicy Chicken Quesadillas
(Black Bean Quesadillas for my Mom)
Corn Salsa

**I also think the end of the week may call for my favorite Strawberry-Almond Cream Tart. (Especially if I'm still waiting for baby!) Yummmmmmmmm...

Belly Shots

As I've mentioned before, being pregnant is a little different the second time around. For example, I've been notoriously bad about taking pictures of myself. Well, here you go - I managed to get K to take a couple of me yesterday, so you can all see what I look like at 9 months.

Etsy Love: Cosas Minimas

*Image from Cosas Minimas

How cute are these prints from the Cosas Minimas Etsy Shop? I love the primary colors. They'd look good in a nursery, playroom, or other kid's area.

39 Weeks

Babycenter says my baby is about the size of the small watermelon now. Although....at 39 weeks, can't we just say that he's the size of an average newborn and he's ready to come out now?

Fiesta!

*Image from Amazon, where there are used DVDs available as well.

I mentioned this video in yesterday's post, but I thought it warranted a post of its own. Sesame Street's Fiesta video is a ton of fun, and A very much enjoys it. It is low on dialogue but high on singing and dancing, which is what the little kids like anyway. A doesn't really have the patience for a regular Sesame Street episode just yet, but this short video is perfect. And - of course we love the introduction of Spanish! A is picking up lots of Spanish these days, and he's very proud to know his colors and shapes and some other words in Spanish as well. "Look! Mom! La abeja!"

Thanks, Aunt D, for getting this one for us! Hopefully A will be able to talk to his cousin Z in Spanish one day.

Totally and Completely in Love

*I know I'm biased, but come on - he's gorgeous!

I am head over heels in love with this little boy. Here are some highlights from just yesterday:

- When I got him up in the morning, he said, "Let's go have pancakes, Mommy!" Everything is just so exciting these days!! "Oooooh, Mommy.....bacon!"
- "Mom, Daddy's at work. And you have to go to work. I'M going to school today. To play with my friends. I'm going to bring a couple books. Kay?"
- Me: "A, we have to get dressed now to get ready for school." A: "No." Me: "Come on, Sweetie. Time to get dressed." A: "No." (I had to include one of these exchanges in order to keep the message authentic. He eventually did come - he just has his own timetable and does not like to be rushed.) Me: "Honey, we have to get ready for school. You can bring your truck upstairs if you want." A: "Okay, Mom. I'm coming."
- Car rides are really just an excuse to look at trucks. The boy is ridiculous about trucks. He knows them all and gets SO excited when he sees one, especially particular favorites. "OOOH, Mommy, LOOK! A cherry-picker! That's Daddy's favorite! And a car transport! That's your favorite! LOOK! Do you see it?!"
- When I arrived at day care, he sprinted across the playground and jumped into my arms, wrapping his arms around my neck. "I love you, Mommy." (You just can't beat that!)
- "Mom, can I watch some Elmo please?" (A perfectly polite question without the typical initial whining and my prompting him to ask nicely.)
- After watching a Sesame Street video ("Fiesta"), he spent dinner singing, "Amigo, Amigo, lalalalalala...." "Sing, Mommy!"
- "Mmmmm.....yummy pasta and chicken, Mom." (He's still not a big eater, but at least he tries everything. Grilled chicken and pesto pasta, a small bowl of grape tomatoes, and half a pear for dessert. Not bad.)
- A: "What are you doing, Mom?" Me: "Cleaning the dishes, Sweetie." A: "Wait! Let me help you!"
- "Come and play, Mommy. Come!" Sometimes chores must wait. I can't resist an invitation to play. We spent the time after dinner singing, dancing, making snowmen out of play-doh, throwing balls, and rolling trucks back and forth to each other.
- "Daddy! Hi! Come read stories! Hurry!" K came home from work in time to read bedtime stories. "We're going to read 3 stories....that's the deal." We've been falling into the "just one more book" trap lately, so we're trying to be more consistent. A is picking it up very quickly.


All of these exchanges or comments were from just one day! And that was a day when I had to work and therefore only got to hang out with him in the morning and evening. He amazes me, and I swear I love him more every single day.

Apple Pecan Quick Bread

*Image from here

I had a few small apples that were past their prime for eating raw but still perfectly acceptable for cooking. I also had a cool and dreary Sunday afternoon, so I decided to bake something. I chose this Apple Pecan Quick Bread. I like this recipe, because it requires only one bowl and no beaters; it is very fast to prepare and get in the oven. And - it's yummy! I didn't have pecans, so I used walnuts instead, and threw in a few craisins while I was at it. Now K and I have breakfast for the week! Yum.

*I noticed that the reviews for this recipe are all over the map, but it also seems like a lot of people tried to mess with the recipe and then complain about it. I didn't find it bland at all, but some cinnamon might be a nice addition. Sprinkling some brown sugar on top might be nice, too - I love crispy sweet toppings. Definitely chop the apples instead of grating them.

Summer Reading

*Image from NY Times

Okay, so I know I'm getting ready to have a baby, and I probably won't have a lot of time to read this summer. At the same time, I will be at home for a while, and new babies do sleep at times, so perhaps I will actually be able to pick up a book every now and then. I also remember some long night feeding sessions, especially in the early days, when I was able to balance a book in one hand. So we'll see.

I just finished reading People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks. I enjoyed it very much, but it was not an easy read. I also enjoyed her other books, including March and Year of Wonders, so if you haven't read this author, I'd recommend her. (Start with March - it's great.)

But now I'm thinking I need something a little lighter, easier to pop in and out of as I have time. This article in the NY Times contains some book recommendations that I plan to check out. I thought I'd share in case you might be looking for something new for your nightstand as well. Enjoy!

*Image from Amazon

Menu of the Week

*Image from Real Simple

Southwestern Salad (Hooray for fresh cilantro from the herb barrel!)

Parmesan Pork Cutlets

mashed potatoes

green beans

Grilled Chicken and Pesto Farfalle

salad

Sauteed Tilapia with Honey-Scallion Dressing

A Little Inspiration

*Image from here

I love these little diary postings in the NY Times. Some of them are just so sweet. This one made me smile...

Dear Diary:
My husband, who is the ultimate recycler, collects the sad, misshapen and rejected umbrellas that are often found lying in the trash bins around our West Village neighborhood.

Knowing of my aversion to collections of clutter, he hustles them past me to his study and spends quite a bit of time repairing them.

The next time it rains, he carries several repaired umbrellas into our neighborhood and approaches anyone who appears to be bedraggled, drenched or just plain miserable. He says, “You look as if you could use an umbrella.”

After their initial expressions of shock, their faces change to smiles of gratitude as he hands the refurbished umbrellas to them. “Have a great day,” he says, thoroughly enjoying himself.

Regina Spektor - "Laughing With"

Oh, yes, I'm afraid the music splurge is definitely close! Regina Spektor has a new album coming out on the 23rd. Enjoy the video and have a happy Friday!

Spring in a Box

*Images from Inchmark

I am going to remember this lovely idea next Spring. I used to put together fun and random packages all the time, especially for my younger sister. I loved putting them together - finding favorite candies, putting new music on a CD, etc. It makes me happy to surprise someone. I love the theme behind this one. There's no reason why you couldn't do this any time of year, of course, but I do agree that Spring is particularly appropriate, especially when you live someplace with a long, wet, cold Spring like I do.

Black Bean Burgers

*Image from Southern Living

I like black bean burgers, but I am not a fan of the frozen packaged ones. At least the ones I've tried. They end up tasting like hockey pucks to me. Dry and spicy to cover up the lack of flavor. I'd like to come up with healthier options for items to put on the grill this summer, and there has to be a good recipe for black bean burgers out there. Do any of you have one? Any recommendations?

Etsy Pick: {jig.}

*Images from jig.'s Etsy Shop

Another Etsy shop that offers really cute items that would be perfect for a baby gift. Adorable handmade onesies, tees, and other cute things. It is so easy to get bored with all the usual baby designs and colors, especially for boys - it is refreshing to see cool and fun prints. I also love that they are handmade and not too expensive. The wooden boxes they are packaged in makes a lovely touch. Check them out!

More Kitchen Love

*Image via Desire to Inspire

When I get a new kitchen, I will vow to always keep my cake stand out on the counter, filled with a yummy cake.

Aunts, Neighbors, and Lemonade

*I tried to convince A to move in with us, but that didn't seem to work for her. Darnit!

This week's Three Beautiful Things:

1. AMW loves his Aunt Amber. We spent last week together, and the first thing A said every morning was, "Where's Amber?" Both of his aunts were so helpful, entertaining the boy and giving his mom a rest every now and then. It was great.

2. We have wonderful neighbors. After being away for a week and coming home to a dirty house and an empty fridge, it was such a welcome surprise to have our neighbors show up with a complete dinner for us. And it was yummy too! A even ate a bunch, which is high praise. So so nice.

3. The new cafeteria has fresh watermelon lemonade, and the lady in the next row over has her candy jar filled with tootsie rolls.

Dave Matthews Band

I love the Dave Matthews Band. I first saw them at a college frat party in Virginia when I was in high school. I liked them then. I continued to enjoy them through college, when they hit the big time. And I still love them now. They are still making great music. Part of the reason why I love them is that they are a fabulous live band. They obviously love making music together and playing in front of crowds.

In case you don't know, they have a new album out. Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King. It's getting good reviews, although obviously those don't mean much. The songs I've heard so far are very good, though, and I'm looking forward to spending some quality time with the album. (Oooh, I feel a music splurge coming on soon!) In the meantime, enjoy this video from their appearance on The Today Show last week.

If You're Headed to the Video Store...

I am so behind on movies. It's sad. I haven't even rented many movies this year, because my husband and I can't seem to stay up late enough to watch them!

However, we have managed to watch a few lately. I thought I'd share some opinions. We watched Doubt, which was good and well-acted, but not amazing, at least to me - perhaps it was the subject matter. We watched Taken, which was entertaining, but that's the highest praise I could give it.

We watched Valkyrie, which was actually a lot better than I expected it to be. The fact that it was based on a true story made it interesting, although it just seemed very wrong for it not to be made in German.

Last week, being home alone, I decided to rent Milk. It was very good, and I'd definitely recommend it. Inspiring and very well-acted.

With baby #2 coming very soon, I may not get to watch many movies again for a while, but if you happen to rent something you really enjoyed, let me know.

Quote of the Day

"Without ice cream, there would be darkness and chaos."

—Don Kardong

*Image from Haagen-Dazs.com

(I tried this pineapple coconut ice cream for the first time this weekend. It is beyond yummy! It makes you feel like you're on vacation on a sunny warm beach. Mmmmmm.)

Be Back Soon!

Sorry I've been MIA over the past week. Things come up and life happens, ya know? (No, no baby yet!) I was out of town for the week, but I'm back now. I am working on catching up soon, so I'll get back to my regular posting as quickly as possible.

100 Best Movie Lines in 200 Seconds

This is a fun video. Tons of great movie lines from tons of great movies.

I think we should come up with a list of the worst movie lines, too, though. K and I were talking about this the other day. My pick for worst ever: "Is it raining? I hadn't noticed." From Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Stand by Me

Please take a few minutes to watch this. It's another one of those videos that will make you smile and feel good about the world.

Sunny Days!

I just checked the weather forecast. This week has been cold and rainy, so I had my fingers crossed for nice weather for the weekend. Lo and behold! The forecast: Mostly Sunny and Temperatures in the 70s starting tomorrow and lasting through the entire week! HOORAY!

Red Kitchen

*Images from PointClickHome

Thanks to Erin at Perfect Sentiment for posting this gorgeous red kitchen. I've said all along that we'll be going for a white kitchen. I don't think a bright color would really work in our space - it's not big or open enough. That said, I adore this red kitchen. I'll at least need some splash of color, and I really love the red. What do you think?

You can see more pictures and read about this fabulous kitchen here.

Make Way for Ducklings

*Image from Wikipedia

Another reason I love Boston: the Public Garden and the Swan Boats. They inspired the book, Make Way for Ducklings. It is a very cute and fun children's book, even if you don't live near Boston, but I think living here makes it that much more special. A adores this book, especially saying the names of all the ducklings: Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack. He knows quite a lot of it by heart now, so he'll sometimes read along with me. We haven't done it yet, but I am looking forward to bringing him to ride the swan boats and see the statues of those little ducklings.

Disclaimer: I will be honest and admit that I'm writing this post to try to negate the loathing I am feeling towards this book right now. I have read it almost every night for the last month, and for some reason, it must be read on the floor as opposed to the bed. This hurts my back, and it also allows A to dance around the room while insisting that I keep reading. It really is a cute book, though.

Menu of the Week

*Image from Cooking Light

Items to be used up: Grits, Cheddar Cheese, Green Pepper, Mushrooms, couple boxes of almost-empty pasta, and pesto (only a little bit left from last Fall!).

Grilled Chicken and Pesto Sandwiches (with Cheddar)

Corn on the Cob

Pasta Salad

__________________

Baked Ziti (*I just made my own meatless version with mushrooms, onions, cottage cheese...but I thought I'd include an easy recipe here.)

Salad

__________________

Barbecue-Rubbed Pork Chops

Cheese Grits

__________________

Pierogies with Onions and Peppers

Kielbasa

Packing for the Hospital

*No, no news yet - this is me and A the day after his big arrival.

I still have another month, but I'm starting to prepare myself for the arrival of my new baby boy. I'm putting together the list of items I'd like to bring to the hospital. I have done this before, so I do remember the key things I found useful and other things that weren't necessary. As a result, my list this time around isn't nearly as long. Take a look - were their other things you found helpful to have in the hospital?


iPod/speakers - I loved having my own music, especially during early labor. I could focus on the songs during contractions.
chapstick
pajamas (simple cotton nightgowns) and robe
toiletries (toothbrush, hairbrush, etc)
hair elastics - must be able to pull the hair back!
glasses
camera
phone
socks/underwear/bra
going-home clothes



For K: couple drinks, snacks, magazines
For the little guy: going-home outfit and car seat (which we should probably install soon, huh?)

I know there are lots of other things on the lists that I've seen online, but last time I remember going home with about 5 bags full of stuff from the hospital! They provide so much - receiving/swaddling blankets, sanitary pads, nursing pads, diapers, etc.

Sunblock

*Image from www.amazon.com

It's that time of year. Even in this part of the world, we have to make sure we're wearing our sunscreen. I have to put some on little A every day, because if it's not raining, he's playing outside. I thought I'd share our favorite: Neutrogena Dry-Touch. It really does dry quickly, so you don't feel greasy, and it doesn't run into your eyes (or more importantly, your child's eyes). It smells good, and it protects well. Because it rubs in quickly, it's easy to put on enough.

I also really like the Cooling Mist Sunblock, also by Neutrogena. I often use this for reapplying later in the day. It's refreshing for those hot days, and it's also sometimes the only way I can get more sunblock on my running boy or my resistant husband.

Note: Both the Dry Touch and the Cooling Mist sunblocks can be found at Costco! I know it's not the least expensive brand, so finding a deal is key, especially knowing how much we'll go through this summer!

Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles

It doesn't take much to make a two-year old happy. (This very silly lizard tee - we call it "the eye" shirt - is one of the things that makes A happy.)

Being outside with bubbles is enough. (Check out me in the background for the latest "belly shot" - just one month left!)

These little bubble guns are the greatest - they let A make bubbles on his own,

and then chase after them, screaming and laughing the entire time. Life is simple and fun and happy.

Five Senses Weekend - Memorial Day edition

*Picture taken during a walk to a nearby children's garden. This giant red rocking chair is a highlight.

See

- Good friends that I haven't seen in years
- Newly-blooming pink rhododendrons in our yard
- Golf-ball sized hail, in the middle of an otherwise gorgeous day

Touch
- My squirming belly. The little dude has been getting the hiccups a lot lately.
- A's tow truck, monster truck, and garbage truck - we roll them back and forth across the living room floor. He's going to be disappointed when we finish the room and get a new rug.


Hear
- K's quote of the weekend: "I feel like I should just keep eating the pulled pork, because really, how often do you get pulled pork, ya know?"
- A, squealing and shrieking as he chases after bubbles


Smell
- Sweet basil seedlings, now planted in my herb barrel. Yum!
- Fresh cut grass. LOVE that smell! I also love being able to open up all the windows to let that fresh air in.


Taste
- Strawberry shortcake, lemonade, grilled chicken and pesto sandwiches, watermelon, blueberry pancakes...lots of tastes of summer!

Menu of the Week

*Image from Cooking Light

I have been getting a little lazy when it comes to planning our week's meals, particularly since my husband has been traveling a lot. But I can definitely tell a huge difference when I fail to do this. It simply adds unnecessary stress to the week. So I'm trying to get back in the habit.

I'm also focusing on identifying a few items that are in our pantry/fridge that need to be used up so we're being as efficient as possible with our groceries. On this week's list: package of boursin cheese, corn on the cob, shredded cabbage, cheddar cheese, and tomato sauce. Here's what's on this week's menu:

Sloppy Joes

Cole Slaw

Hot ham and cheese sandwiches
Vegetable soup


Chicken Scallopini (*Use thin-sliced chicken to save a step.)
Corn on the cob
Herbed mashed potatoes (I took the "fake it" approach and mixed Boursin cheese and a little milk with cooked red potatoes.)


Baked tilapia w/ roasted tomatoes
Rice

Tori Amos - Abnormally Attracted to Sin

Tori Amos has a new album, Abnormally Attracted to Sin. I don't have it yet, but I like what I've heard so far. I love Tori, but I haven't been thrilled by her recent releases. I'm holding out hope for this one.

Here is a link to Amazon, where you can sample the songs and view the video to the album's first single, "Fire to Your Plain".

This Week's Organizing - Dresser Drawers

*Image from Apartment Therapy - my sock drawer is in decent shape now, but I will never fold socks!

Organizing, like cleaning, is just one of those activities that is never "done". But I don't spend enough time doing it. I go through moods and phases of organizing, but I'd like to make it more of a habit. I know people who designate time every week to organize some part of their house and others who partner up with friends to tackle projects on a regular basis. Well, I do the best I can, but I haven't been able to make it a regular activity.

I wrote this list of organizing projects that I would like to tackle in the next several months in an effort to motivate me. So far, it has worked. I've already done several. Actually, the day after I wrote that post, I decided that there really should be nothing stopping me from going through my sock/underwear drawers. So I did. I emptied everything out; matched up singles; got rid of all "holies", singles, and unwanteds; and put everything back in its place. It took about 20 minutes, and my drawers are so much cleaner and more accessible now!

The other key to maintaining an organized dresser - in my opinion anyway - is doing the seasonal clothes switch. I also did this recently - packed away all my sweaters and wool pants and brought out all the shorts and tees. I not only achieved a cleaner closet and dresser, but I also filled two bags to donate!

Apartment Therapy has a good post about organizing your dresser if you're interested in tackling this one yourself.

Perfect Sentiment

I thought this was a nice way to start the week. The blog where I found it - Perfect Sentiment - is also lovely, if you're looking for some additional inspiration today.

Have a happy Monday!

Quote of the Day

*I love Spring in New England....once the tulips are blooming.

"Let the refining and improving of your own life keep you so busy that you have little time to criticize others."


- H. Jackson Brown

Lilacs, Baby Girls, and Being Prepared

There are some weeks when finding three beautiful things is more difficult, and therefore all the more important...

This week's Three Beautiful Things:

1. Is there anything in the world that smells as lovely as a lilac? A calls them "eye-lacks", and he thinks they smell yummy too. They're also gorgeous of course, but it's the smell that gets me.

2. My brother/sister-in-law had a baby girl on Sunday. A new and gorgeous niece! What a wonderful Mother's Day gift for them. They're healthy and happy, and I'm so excited for them.

3. I have gotten better about freezing portions of our meals, especially when my husband is traveling. Having that ready-to-heat option is so nice, especially during the week.